Having cats or dogs in your household can lead to a hairy buildup on your furniture and floors. Some pet owners shave their pets' coats to eliminate this problem.

Many long-haired cats, for example, get what's called a "lion cut" - not only to decrease the amount of hair in the house but to reduce the cat's incidence of vomiting up hairballs.

My own Persian cat, Luke (short for the leukemia he had as a kitten), seemed to be more comfortable post-shaving. For months afterward, he tended to be more affectionate and enjoyed more petting.

Frequent grooming and brushing, and the use of shedding blades and special brushes, can help decrease the amount of loose fur in the house. Increasing your pet's intake of omega fatty acids also should help to reduce his or her shedding.

Lots of dog owners in South Florida shave their swimming canines because, with a thick coat or long fur, they take a long time to dry.

I even know a professional body builder who not only shaves his own body for his career but shaves his pit bull as well. He says he can't stand the fur in his bed.

When deciding what dog or cat breed you want, consider your hair requirements. Do you mind vacuuming frequently, or is fur on your furniture and clothes not a big deal?

And remember: Short-coated does not necessarily mean less hair. For example, short-coated dogs and cats that have an undercoat ("guard hairs") actually shed more, and the hairs are often the kind that stick to everything and have more skin oils on them - two factors that can make these dogs worse for allergy sufferers.

Cat hairs are often considered more allergenic because of the saliva deposited on them from the animal grooming itself. Cat hairs are also stickier than dog hairs because of the former's needle-like shape (guys, that's why your cat's hair sticks worse to your face in the morning when you have your overnight beard stubble).

Remember that all cats and dogs shed, unless they are the hairless breeds. Lighter-shedding dog breeds include the Bedlington terrier, poodles, Italian greyhounds and many terrier breeds. For more help in selecting a breed right for you, check out www.dogbreedinfo.com

When picking materials for your furniture, use fabrics that are more tightly woven so that fur is less clingy. Leather works better than fabric, but claws might leave pinpricks and scratches on its surface.

Carpets collect more oil on their surface and collect more dirt and debris - deep down at their base - that might remain even after frequent vacuuming. Therefore, if you have allergies, they may be worse with carpets.

A HEPA filter for your air conditioner, and frequent changes of it, might help reduce your allergies.